Special Chapter I: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

How far can you go for your dreams?

How much are you willing to sacrifice?

For Belle Alcazar, she can go as far as possible. She can sacrifice as much as she could. Growing up, the mestiza beauty was determined to fight for justice. But could she possibly sacrifice the love of her life, Aster Fernandez?

While she was conflicted, Aster was sure to never let her go. The only things in life he values are the mafia and her. He cannot see a life without her. But she just had to choose to be a cop. And he just had to be a mafia member.

When duty calls, will you answer at the cost of your love?

---

Belle was nine-year-old, swinging at their local park, when she saw a boy being pushed around by other kids.

It was a wimpy kid circled around by tall, intimidating boys. They were pushing him around until he finally fell to the ground. It was almost a natural instinct for Belle to stand up and march towards them, witnessing such a blatant example of injustice. Her golden-brown locks bobbed as she purposefully strode towards the group, her brows furrowed and her lower lip protruding.

“Hey!”

The tall boys turned to her and for a moment, the bullying stopped. She was tall herself, so she did not struggle in staring them straight in their eyes. Their leader stepped forward, with his hands smugly in his pocket.

“What? This is none of your business. Go away,” he coldly spat.

She crossed her arms. “Why are you bullying him? What did he do?”

He wimpy kid lowered the arms protecting his head and slowly looked up at her. His eyes were teary and his face was smudged with dirt. She empathized with him even more. Her blood was lit with passion as she glared at their leader.

“I said,” he repeated, “This is none of your business.”

The boy had a strong, authoritative voice that sent chills down Belle’s spine, but she acted indifferent to it and decisively stepped forward, closing their distance even more, until one of his friends stepped between them and glared at her. He was the tallest and biggest among them that she couldn’t help but be intimidated.

“Step back.” He commanded. He was young, but the power he emitted was already that of an adult’s. “I’ll take care of her, Jett,” he says before dragging her away. Their leader’s name must be Jett, as he nodded and turned to look back at the wimpy kid.

Belle protested against his strong hold on her, yelling, “This isn’t over! Hey, ugly boy! I’ll—mmhmm!”

She grumbled when all her words turned gibberish as he placed his hand over hers. She busied herself tearing it off and once he did, they were already away from the playground.

“Hey! What is wrong with you! Your friend is bullying someone and you’re allowing it?! It’s wrong!” She screamed, her nostrils flaring and her index finger pointed accusingly at him. Meanwhile, he looked bored.

“Hey!” She screamed again. This time, he exasperatedly sighed.

“We’re not bullying him. You’ve misunderstood the situation, stupid,” he explained, glaring down at her.

“What?! Then what are you doing? You’re all tall, scary guys and he’s just one skinny—”

“He touched one of our female friends inappropriately,” he cut her off. “He touched her chest like a jerk. Natalia didn’t like it and was crying all day. So, we got revenge on him for her. Okay?”

Belle was speechless.

After the situation was cleared, she realized it wasn’t an example of injustice. It was the opposite.

“I-I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions…” she trailed off, thoroughly embarrassed. She avoided his eyes and pouted.

From then on, she hung out with them, utterly fascinated by their righteous deeds despite their brazen attitude. She was inspired by their sense of justice and strength to carry it out. They attended the same school until high school.

Jett was a jerk, but was righteous nevertheless. Natalia was bright and elegant. Aster was quiet and reserved, but when they’re alone, he was mischievous and unhinged. She loved that about him. As time passed by, they spent more and more time together. They enjoyed time together, and eventually, made it official.

Belle was the top achiever, the student council president, and a frequent volunteer for donation drives. Aster was the mysterious hot guy, the friend of the most popular kid, the quiet bad boy that still never fails a subject—making them the popular couple at school.

And she loved every moment of it.

Perhaps those were her happiest days.

Their graduation was drawing near. Aster lay comfortably on her lap while reading a book. They cleared out a spot under the willow tree at school and laid a soft cloth before sitting on it. She leaned on the tree trunk, stroking his jet-black hair as he quietly read.

She’d been waiting for the perfect time to open this, and it looks like now is the best time. Say it now before it’s too late, she thought to herself. So she called him.

“Hm?” he hummed a response.

Her strokes through the strands of his hair shifted slightly.

“Where are you going to college?”

He was quiet for a while, until he mentioned the nearby university. “It’s where we’re all going, aren’t we? Jett and the others will go there too.”

“I…” She trailed off. “I’m not going there,” was her quiet declaration.

“…”

Aster put his book down, his narrow eyes immediately locking with hers. “What do you mean?”

She couldn’t say it while looking in his eyes. So she avoided his eyes. “I’m going to New York. I’ll study at NYU.”

He was quiet for a while before nodding supportively. He sat right up and inched closer to her, patting her head as he smiled softly. “Okay, we’ll call and visit each other often,” he says, without a hint of doubt.

Her lower lip trembled, seeing the love of her life put full trust into her. He had always been like this. Trusting and supportive. He always had her back. He was always first to support her and to cheer her on.

“No, I…” her voice shook. She has to say it now. “I’m gonna be a cop. We can’t be together.”

She shook her head as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. There was a change in his face.

“W-What…?”

“You’re a criminal,” she firmly stated. She could hear his heart breaking but she has to do it. She’s always wanted to be a cop since she was young. And nobody has managed to stop her since. “If I’m gonna be a protector of justice, I can’t have you beside me. Or else… Or else… I’ll be the one to arrest you.”

---

Life was cruel.

Life is merciless, and destiny even more so.

Her childhood friend, Jett, failed to recognize her and even put a bullet in her head. It was ridiculous how much destiny toyed with them.

Who knew they’d meet again in this situation?

She was barely breathing. She was ready to accept death. She was in so much pain that she just wants it all to go away now. Her arms were basically open, waiting for death to take her.

But a different person came into her arms.

“Stupid woman,” she heard him mutter before her consciousness slipped.

She woke up with her body aching all over. Her head was particularly painful. Doe surveyed herself. She was covered with bandages and with a cast on her arm, but she wore loose pants and even a loose navy shirt. She’s inside a compact apartment with a CCTV installed on one corner of the wall. She glared at it after seeing it beep in red lights.

She wanted to leave, but she couldn’t move freely yet. She knew this will take a long time to heal.

For the following hours, there was nothing but silence. Until the pass code of her apartment was unlocked and the door swung open. She anticipated helplessly.

Doe’s eyes met with a familiar man.

He abruptly froze before gathering himself and dropping a duffel bag on the floor with a thud. “Take these and leave,” he coldly said and hastily turned his back to her, aiming for the door who has not even fully closed yet.

“A-Aster!”

He stilled. She felt emotional after calling out a name so unfamiliar after years.

“Thank you.”

She’s been a protector of justice.

She’s reached her dream.

But she’s been wondering why she still doesn’t feel like she achieved enough?

When she saw him again, the answer was clear. Because she achieved her real dream a long time ago…and she let it go. Finally, Doe found her true purpose in life. She has to earn his heart back. He has to become hers—again.

Life is cruel but you see its beauty when you share it with someone.

Destiny is merciless but it is merely teaching you a lesson; what goes around comes around.